News & Press Releases 2011

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that Senior U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida has stayed his ruling striking down the federal health care law on the condition that the federal government file its appeal and seek expedited appellate review within seven calendar days.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers thanked Gov. John Hickenlooper today for issuing a proclamation in honor of Safe2Tell, a school-safety program within the Office of the Attorney General.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers praised a court order today from the U.S. District Court for the District Northern Florida, calling it a major victory for federalism and the limitation of federal power.

“Today’s ruling is a victory for federalism,” Suthers said. “The judge’s well-reasoned order clearly lays out why the individual health insurance mandate included in the president’s health care overhaul law far exceeds the bounds of the federal government’s enumerated powers.”

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that the state has reached a settlement with the Oklahoma-based tanning chain At The Beach that resolves allegations that the company misled consumers about its tanning contracts. The agreement requires At The Beach to pay an estimated $350,000 in consumer restitution, fines and attorney fees and requires that At The Beach halt its deceptive sales practices and record all of its future sales.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, has shut down a cocaine ring that imported multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Mexico into Colorado.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that a Denver jury has convicted John Reinholdt II (DOB: 1/10/1972) of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, a class-two felony, and conspiracy to violate the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, also a class-two felony, for his role in running a commercial Ponzi scheme using Lafayette-based business entities to defraud commercial lenders from Colorado and Arizona.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that a Larimer County District Court judge has sentenced Jeremy Michael Hart (DOB: 11/26/1973) to nine years in prison for his role in a securities fraud scheme. The judge also ordered Hart to pay roughly $3.4 million in restitution.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that he has appointed Bernie Buescher as the Deputy Attorney General overseeing the Colorado Department of Law’s State Services Section.

“I am pleased to welcome Bernie to my senior staff,” Suthers said. “Bernie is a proven leader and manager. His breadth of experience as an attorney, an elected official and a statewide executive will make him an excellent addition to the Office of the Attorney General’s management team. I look forward to working with him in this new capacity.”

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that an Adams County District Court judge has sentenced David Anton Sudduth (DOB: 9/30/1958) to 12 years probation for his role in dumping grease and biodiesel byproducts at a site in Adams County near Colorado Highway 104. The judge also ordered Sudduth to pay more than $120,000 in restitution to the state. The judge suspended a prison sentence for Sudduth on the condition that he pays the restitution in the next several months.

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that a Denver District Court judge has sentenced Jack Wharton Thomas (DOB: 4/4/1956) to 10 years ­­­­­­probation for failing to pay more than $60,000 in taxes, penalties and interest he owed to the state of Colorado. A Denver jury convicted Thomas in late October of four felonies related to his nonpayment based on dubious tax complaints.